How to buy a sweater

A sweater buying guide

Sweaters both express personal style and provide protection and warmth. If you're wondering how to buy a sweater, you'll need to consider a number of factors such as fabric, fit, style and color.

There are many different types of sweaters. When you shop for sweaters, first consider sweater uses. Ask yourself when and where you are planning to wear the sweater. What type of activities will you be doing? Do you need something casual? Are you looking for ways to expand your collection of women's work wear?

>> What type of fabric do you like?

Once you consider sweater uses, then you can identify the types of sweaters and the fabrics you prefer. The sweater's fabric affects its texture, thickness and sweater design. Many different fabrics are used to make sweaters, including cashmere, wool, cotton, synthetics and blends.

Wool is a natural fiber made from several different types of fur; the type of fur affects the qualities of the sweater. Wool sweaters might be made from Angora rabbit wool, camel wool, alpaca wool, sheep wool and others. Angora wool is soft and luxurious, with small hairs sticking out. It is a delicate fabric that must be hand washed or dry cleaned. Camel hair is coarse and thick. Camel wool sweaters are tough and resilient. Alpaca wool is lightweight and repels moisture. Alpaca is great in rainy regions. In addition, the type of sheep used to make the wool affects the feel of the wool. Lamb's wool is extremely soft and requires additional care.

Cashmere is a natural fiber made from goat wool. Cashmere has an extremely soft texture and is made from very fine threads. Cashmere is a versatile fabric that can be worn in both business and casual settings. Because cashmere is thin and delicate, cashmere sweaters must be dry cleaned or hand washed.

Cotton is a natural plant fiber. Cotton has a soft and smooth texture. When cotton is processed, the thickness can be controlled. Therefore, cotton can vary in thickness, depending on the sweater. Cotton is an extremely versatile fabric. Sweaters made from cotton are durable and easily cleaned.

Synthetic fabrics are created in a laboratory using chemicals. Because the synthetic fabrics are created, a number of factors can be controlled, including texture and thickness. In addition, synthetic fabrics are quick drying, non-wrinkling and easy to wash. Acrylic fabrics are commonly used in sweaters.

Blended fabrics contain more than one type of fabric. For example, some sweaters are made from a cotton and polyester blend. The yarn used to make the sweaters contains both cotton and polyester. Other common blends in different types of sweaters are silk blends and wool blends. Knowing about these fabrics will help you know how to buy a sweater.

Fabric

Subtype

Origin

Texture

Softness

Thickness

Care

Cleaning

Cashmere

Goat fur

Silky

Very soft

Thin

Delicate

Dry clean or hand wash

Wool

Angora

Rabbit

Silky

Very soft

Thin

Delicate

Dry clean or hand wash

Camel

Camel

Coarse

Rough

Thick

Tough

Machine wash

Alpaca

Alpaca

Slick

Medium

Thick

Tough

Machine wash

Sheep

Sheep

Medium

Medium - soft to rough

Medium

Durable

Machine wash

Cotton

Cotton plant

Smooth

Soft

Thin

Durable

Machine wash

Synthetic

Laboratory

Slick

Medium

Thin

Durable

Machine wash, easy to wash

Blends

Mixture of two types

Medium - mixture of ingredients

Medium

Medium

Durable

Machine wash

>> How should the sweater fit you?

When choosing how to buy a sweater, you need determine the correct sweater size. As with all women's tops and women's dresses, different brands size their clothes differently. Your size may vary depending on the brand. If possible, compare sweaters from the same brand when determining sweater sizes.

Different sweater designs may have different sizes. Some sweaters have a loose fit, while others have a tight fit. The fit of the sweater affects the sweater size. It is important to compare similarly designed sweaters to determine the correct sweater size.

Sometimes you can look at the length of the sweater to determine its size. Some sweaters are long and fall to the thighs. Others are short, like women's crop shrug sweaters, and come to the elbows. Others are waist-high. Look at other sweaters that are the same length as a sweater you are considering to determine the appropriate size.

>> What style of sweater do you prefer?

There are many different sweater styles, such as turtleneck, V-neck, crew neck and cardigan. Consider the various styles when you are figuring out how to buy a sweater.

A turtleneck sweater has a high collar that covers the neck and folds down to the neckline. Turtleneck sweaters can be worn in a business setting with jackets, or can be pared with jeans for a casual look.

A V-neck sweater's collar plunges to a point and is shaped like a "V." V-neck sweaters, like classic women's white V-neck sweaters, can be dressy or casual, depending on the fabric used to make it. They can be worn with or without an undershirt

A crew neck sweater's collar is circular. Crew neck sweaters are more casual and are the most common type of sweater.

A cardigan sweater has buttons down the front, allowing it to be worn as a jacket. Cardigan sweaters can be worn over a variety of apparel and can dress up (or dress down) any outfit.

>> What color is best for you?

Another consideration when deciding how to buy a sweater is sweater color. There are two main classes of colors: warm colors and cool colors. Warm colors are earth-toned and include shades of brown, yellow and warm red. Cool colors are lighter and are pastel or gem toned. Cool colors include blue, purple, pink and green.

When selecting a color, consider the seasons. In winter, the colors turn darker and warmer. Dark, warm colors absorb the heat and can provide additional warmth. During the spring and summer, cooler colors are more appropriate. In spring and summer, light pastel colors are more appropriate and reflect the heat. Warm colors would thus not be appropriate to wear in the summer, as they would absorb the heat and would be too hot.

When deciding how to buy a sweater, establishing your sweater uses first is important to sift through the many different types of sweaters. Compare sweaters with similar sweater designs to determine your sweater size. Then decide on sweater styles you prefer and select a color. With this sweater buying guide, you will be able to find the best sweater for you.

Important Walmart Disclaimer:
Used with permission. Copyright Walmart. All Rights Reserved.
All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. Neither the author nor Walmart.com assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. Walmart does not sponsor, recommend or endorse any third party, product, service or information provided on this site.